Ribbon spool holder



Nov. 27,'1962 E. D1 Luco 3065837 RIBBON sPooL HoLDER Filed Nov. 22, 1960INVENToR. fuGE/VE D1 Luca AMW/if. BMW

ATTURNEY Stres 3,06s,837 noN sPooL HoLDER My invention relates generallyto inked ribbon holders, and specifically to an inked ribbon spoolholder for the insertion and Withdrawal of inked ribbon from type-Writers, teletypewriters, computers and like machines, without touchingthe ribbon.

Many inked ribbons are provided with a protective covering at theexposed end portion of the ribbon, or at the center of the ribbon whenpartially wound on two spools, to prevent the fingers from being soiledby touching the exposed ribbon while inserting it into a machine.However, in every instance, the spool on which the ribbon is wound mustbe touched when inserting or withdrawing the spool from a machine. It isextreinely difiicult to touch the ribbon spool without touching theribbon, and it is equally difficult to avoid ink-soiled areas on thespool itself.

Therefore, it is among the objects and advantages of my invention toprovide a ribbon spool holder which is adapted to facilitate insertionand withdrawal of the ribbon spool without touching the ribbon or thespool.

Another object of my invention is to provide a ribbon spool holder inwhich the ribbon spool is releasably held within a holder by latcheswhich engage the top flange of the ribbon spool las the spool isinserted into the holder.

A further object of my invention is to provide a ribbon spool holderwhich may be pressed downwardly over a ribbon spool mounted in amachine, grasping the spool by means of latches on spring-loaded levers,and thereafter to remove the spool of spent ribbon tightly secured inthe holder.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a ribbon spool holderwhich may be so inexpensively fabricated of some material, such asplastic, that it may be sold as a protective package with the ribbonspool in it, and disearded when the exhausted ribbon is removed by it.

These objects and advantages as Well as other objectsV and advantagesmay be achieved by my invention, one ernbodiment of which is illustratedin the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective showing my ribbon spool holderpositioned above the ribbon spool receptacle on a typewriter.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of my ribbon spool holder.

FIGURE 3 is a Vertical sectional view thereof.

FIGURE 4 is a 'bottom plan view thereof.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a spring for operating a lever.

FIGURE 6 is a view in perspective of a lever which may be pivotallymounted on my ribbon spool holder.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, my ribbon spool holdercomprises an inverted cup-shaped housing 11 having a circular top 12 andan annular, generally perpendicular, depending flange 13 formedintegrally thereon. The top 12 is provided with a central hole 14 tofacilitate the discharge of .a ribbon spool in the event that frictionretains it within the housing 11. 'Ihe top 12 is also provided with apair of slots 15, 16 positioned on the same diameter at opposite edgesof the top 12. The annular flange 13 is provided with a pair ofdiametrical slots 17, 18 communicating with the slots 15, 16respectively. The slots 17, 18 extend from the top 12 downwardly throughthe flange 13, terminating however above its bottom edge. The flange 13is also provided with a Patented Nov. 27, 1962 ribbon slot 19 extendingupwardly from its bottom edge, terminating at the top 12.

The top 12 is provided with opposed ears 20, 21 arranged in pairs onopposite sides of the slots 15, 16 respectvely. Each of the ears 20, 21is provided With a hole 22 to accommodate a shaft 23. Pivotally mountedon each shaft 23, is a lever 24; each lever 24 is provided with a pairof ears 25, 25 each having a hole 26 therein to accommodate the shaft 23on which the lever 24 is mounted. The lever 24 is also provided with alatch 27 that pivots inwardly and outwardly through the slots 17 and 18in the flange 13. The latch 27 is provided with a shoulder 28 to engageand hold the bottom of the top ilange of a ribbon spool and to retain itwithin the housing 11. The latch 27 is also provided with a cam-surface29 lbeneath the shoulder 28 to engage the top flange of the ribbonspool, deflecting the lever 24 outwardly, as the holder 11 is insertedover the spool, until the shoulder 28 can pivot under the top flange.

A spring 30 is mounted on each shaft 23 between the ears 25, 25 on thelever 24. The spring 30` normally urges the lever 24 to pivot about theshaft 23 urging the latch 27 inwardly toward the center of the housing11. Inward movement of the latch 27 is limited v`by engagement of theears 25, 25 with the top 12.

In operation, a ribbon spool carrying a fresh inked ribbon is insertedinto the holder at the factory. The diameter of the ribbon spool holderis slightly greater than the diameter of the spool. As the spool isinserted into the housing 11, its top flange engages the cam-surface 29on the latch 27 deflecting the lever 24 outwardly in opposition to thespring 30. As the flange of the spool passes the shoulder 28, the latch27 snaps inwardly under the influence of the spring 30 and the shoulder28 engages the bottom surface of the top flange of the ribbon spoolthereby retaining it in the housing 11.

To insert a ribbon spool in a machine such as a type- Writer, the holderhaving the ribbon spool contained therein is positioned over the ribbonspool spindle of the machine. The holder is moved downwardly so that theshaft passes through the ribbon spool. Finger pressure is applied to theportions of the levers 24, 24. The levers 24, 24 are thereby pivoted todsengage the shoulders 28, 28 from the topmost flange of the ribbonspool and the holder 11 lifted upwardly, leaving the ribbon spoolmounted on the shaft in the machine. In this manner, a ribbon spool maybe inserted in a machine Without the fingers ever touching the ribbon orthe spool.

In some instances, it may be desirable to employ a ribbon wound on twospools. In these cases, a separate holder is employed for each spool,With the ribbon joining the spools together passing through the ribbonslots 19, 19 in the flanges 13, 13. The same procedure as set forthabove is employed to insert simultaneously each spool in the machine.The exposed ribbon joining the spools together may then be inserted intothe ribbon carrier on the machine. 'Ihe ribbon may be provided with aprotective sheath to permit finger manipulation Without touching theinked surface of the ribbon.

The ribbon spools may be removed from the machine by inserting theholders into the machine over the spool. As the holder is presseddownwardly, the topmost flange of the spool will engage the cam-surface29 on the latch 27, deflecting the lever 24 outwardly, until it passesthe shoulder 28. The latch 27 then snaps inwardly under the influence ofthe spring 30, and the shoulder 28 engaging the bottom of the top flangeof the ribbon spool. The holder 11 is then withdrawn upwardly, theribbon spool firmly retained therein.

The ribbon spool holder may be fabricated of some suitable inexpensivematerial such as plastic. The holders may be sold with the ribbon spoolscontained therein as a sales package. After the spool has been insertedinto the machine, the holder is retained for use in the removal of theribbon spool after the ribbon has been spent. The holder with the spentribbon spool contained therein may be discarded so that the hands neednever touch the ribbon or the ribbon spool.

The foregoing description is merely intended to illustrate an embodimentof the invention. 'Ihe component parts have been shown and described.'They each may have substitutes which may perform a substantiallysimilar function; such substitutes may be known as proper substitutesfor the said components and may have actually been known or inventedbefore the present invention; these substitutes are conternplatedasbeing within the scope of the appended claim, although they are notspecifically catalogued herein.

What is claimed:

A ribbon spool holder comprising a generally circular slotted top,having a pair of dia metrically opposed slots extending inwardly fromopposite sides of the peripheral edge of the top.

a depending annular slotted flange on the top, having a pair of opposed,generally parallel slots extending downwardly from the top andintersecting with the slots in the top,

the top and annular flange defining a housing for a ribbon spool, thehousing being open at the bottom,

a pair of levers pivotally mounted on the housing for movement in eachof the slots,

a latch on each lever in the housing,

a shoulder on each latch engageable with the ribbon spool in thehousing,

a cam-surface on the bottom of each latch engageable with the top of theribbon spool to deflect the lever upon cngagement with the top of theribbon spool,

a spring engaged with each lever normally urging the latch intoengagement with the n'bbon spool in the housing, and

a portion of each lever extending outside of the housing through theslots for pivotal manipulation of the lever.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,608,279 Handley Nov. 23, 1926 2,873,014 Lambert Feb. 10, 19592,873,0l5 Gray Feb. 10, 1959

